Scooter



R. B. BuKoLr v SCOOTER Filed July 2o. 1925 @Roumain Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

ROMAN B. BUKOLT, OF STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN.

SCOOTER.

Application sied July 2o, i925. serial' No. 44,845.

My invention relates to improvements in childrens vehicles of the type commonly known as scooters. Devices of this class commonly employ a wheeled steering column, a. rear wheel, a frame supported at its back end by the rear wheel and pivoted at its frontend to the steering column, and a foot-board carried by this frame, and it is the principal .aim of my invention to provide a generally improved device of this character. y

In carrying out the above end, further objects are to. provide a front fender plate and to make unique provision for securing it in place; to provide'novel means for connecting the footboard with the frame structure; to provide a combi-ned rear fender and brake; and to devise a novel combination brake actuator and stand, the latter being operable when swung downwardly, to support. the

scooter in a vertical position. i

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel sub.- jecty matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

- Figure 1 isa slde elevation partly broken away.

Figure 2v iis a detail horizontal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a top pan view of the rear portion ofthe scooter.

Figure 4 is a verticalV transverse section as indicated byline 4;--4 of Fig. 1'.

Figure 5' is a fragmentary side elevation partly broken away and in section showing the combined brake actuator and stand positioned for use as a stand.

Figure 6 isadetailY perspective View showing more particularly the means for securing the foot-board tothe frame.

TheA drawingabove briefly described may be considered as disclosing the preferred formsv of the several unique features embodied by the improved scooter, but it is to be understood at the outset, that the invention is not restricted to the exact details shown, even thoughsuch details will' ybe rather specifically described, hereinafter;

The numeral? 1 designates a steering column embodying a handle 2, a fork 3 a'idI a front wheel 4, the latter being preferably rubber-tired and: mounted on roller bearings. A similar wheell is'provided at the rear end ofthe scooter, and the axle6 of this Wheel 5 supports the inclined rear ends 7 0f a pair of longitudinal frame-forming bars 8 which underlie and support afoot-hoard 9, the latter being by preference provided with a rubber covering 10 on its up er side. The frontend 11 of this foot-boar is preferably pointed as shown, and the lower side of said board is formed with longitudinal grooves 12 which receive thekupper edges of the bars 8. At Suitable points, the', lower edges lof these bars'are formed with notches 13,

said notches` receiving lugswlll on a transverse clamping member l5 which underlies the bars 8. The mtermediate portion of this clampingV member is bowed upwardly and se cured by a screw or-the like 16v to the footboard 9 and the ends` of said member are preferably turned upwardly as at 17 to pro.- vide abutments engaging the outer sides of thebars 8. Theseabutments positively prevent spreading of the bars 8 and they 4also hold the clamping member l5against canting, about the fastener 16, as a pivot, when driving screw 16.

The front ends of the bars 8 curve upward'ly asl at 18, in front of the foot-board 9 and then project verticali' upward ask at 19, the upper extremities of the portions 19 being secured together by a rivet or the .like 20. An .angular bracket 21, shaped substantially in the, form of a figure 2, has its upper portion secured to the front ends of the bars 8, vby a rivet` 22 and approximate wash ers 23 and 24, through which said rivet passes. The lower end of this bracket passes rearwardly between the portions 1'9 of the bars 8 and' has its rear extremity directed downwardly to, form a lug 25 spaced slightly behind the rear edges of said portions 19. A rivet 26 secures these portions against the opposite edges of the bracket and the latter is preferably formed' with an upwardly bowed seat 27 engaging this fastener.. The bracket 21 issu-itably pivoted to the steering column 1', for instance by studs 28 carried by said colunm, received in openings in the bracket and held against removal from said openingsby cotter pins or the like 29.

A front fender plate 30` contacts with the rear edges ofthe upt-urned ends of the bars 8 the upper end, of said fender plate being held between vsaid edges and the lug 25, and being provided with a forwardl projecting tongue 31 Vreceived between the. ar portions 191` so that said plate is held against lateral shifting. The lower end of the plate 30 is rearwardly directed and is formed with a notch 32 receiving the pointed front end ll of the foot-board 9. vWhen assembling the device, the plate 30 is properly positioned before the foot-board 9 is secured in place. Then, when the latter is tightly forced forwardly, it abuts the plate 3() and effectively holds it in proper engagement with the upturned bar ends, the lug 25, vand the adjacent portion of t-he bracket 2l. When the clamp member l5 is now tightly secured, the floor board and the fender plate 30 will remain in proper positions, and it will be seen that as the front end of the floor board is received in the notch.32, the lower end of the late 30 is held against lateral shifting, it iieing remembered that transverse movement of the. foot-board upon the bars 8, is prevented by the grooves 12.

I have provided a combined fender and brake 33 for the rear wheel 5, this member being of a longitudinally curved, channelsliaped formation and having its lower end 34 suitably secured as at 35 against the bottom of the foot-board 9, said lower end being resilient so that it permits downward swinging of the member 33 into contact with the tire of the wheel 5, when it is to be used as a brake. A pair of substantially4 L-shaped springs 36, are provided at opposite sides of the wheel 5, the lower ends of said springs being connected with the rear extremities 7 of the bars 8, by appropriate fasteners 37, while their upper ends are connected with the combined fender and brake 33. Preferably, the two springs 36 are formed by bending a single piece of spring wire, and the portion 38 of this wire which connects said springs 36, may well pass through an upwardly stamped portion 39 of the member 33, to establish connection between said member and the springs.l These springs are instrumental in normally holding the member 33 out of contact with the tire of the wheel 5, but they also form part of operating means for depressing said member .into contact with the tire.

A U-shaped, combined brake actuator and stand 4:0 has its ends pivoted to the terminals 7 of the bars 8, the fasteners 37Vbeing preferably utilized to establish these pivotal connections. This member 40 is swingable to either of the positions shown in Figs. l and 5, and it is provided with avpair of lugs 41. vWhen the member 4:0 is horizontally disposed as in Fig. l, theselugs rest upon the horizontal portions of the springs 36 and the front end of said member is then in position to be depressed by one foot of the person using the scooter. When so depressed, the lugsv il shift the springs 36 downwardly, thus pulling the combined fender and brake 33 against the tire of the wheel 5 and forming an effective brake.

When the member Zl() is swung to the position of Fig. 5, the lugs Alpabut the bar ends 7 and said member then forms an effective stand for supporting the entire scooter in a vertical position.

Excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed and they are therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modiiications may be made, and obviously any desired materials and ornamentations may be used.

I claim i l. A scooter comprising a steering column having` a front wheel, a rear wheel, a footboard disposed longitudinally between the front and rear wheels, a pair of longitudinal bars underlying said foot-board and having their rear ends supported by the rear wheel,

the front ends of said bars being turned up- *i wardly and pivoted to said steering column, a fender plate contacting with the rear edges of said upwardly turned bar ends, the lower end of said platebeing rearwardly directed and having a notch receiving the front end of said foot-board, means for connecting the upper end of said fender plate with said upwardly turned bar ends, and means for securing said foot-board to said bars with its front end tightly seated in the notch of said fender plate.

2. A scooter comprising a steering column having a front wheel, a rear wheel, a footboard disposed longitudinally between the front and rear wheels, a pair of longitudinal bars underlying said foot-board and having their rear ends supported by the rear wheel, the front ends of said bars being turned upwardly, a bracket secured to said upwardly turned bar ends and pivoted to said steering 1 column, said bracket having a portion ex tending between said upwardly turned bar ends and provided with a downwardly projecting lug slightly in rear thereof, a fender plate contacting with the rear edges of said upwardly turned bar ends and havingits upper end held between their rear edges and said lug, the lower end of said plate being rearwardly directed and abutting the front end of said foot-board, and means for securing said foot-board to said bars.

3. A structure as specified in claim 2; said upper end of said fender, plate having a tongue received between said upwardly turned bar ends to hold it against lateral shifting, the lower end of said fender plate having a notch receiving the front end of said l foot-board and being thereby held against lateral movement.

4. A scooter comprising a foot-board, a pair of longitudinal wheel-supported bars underlying said foot-board and having notches in their lower edges, a transverse clamp member underlying said bars and having lugs receivedrin Said notches, and

` of said member.

means for securing said clamp member to the foot board.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4; said Clamp member having upturned endsY engaging said bars to positively prevent spreading thereof and to prevent canting 6. A structure as'specified in claim 4; said foot-board having longitudinal grooves receiving the upper edges of said bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto axed my signature.

ROMAN B. BUKOLT. 

